Some argue that her weight gain has diminished her attractiveness, while others maintain that Selena Gomez remains beautiful and inspiring regardless of her physical changes. But is this debate really about her appearance, or does it reflect a deeper societal issue? Are we genuinely assessing her beauty, or is there a component of sympathy in our view, driven by her well-documented health struggles? In this blog, we'll explore these questions in depth, addressing the perceptions around weight, beauty standards, and the unfair lens through which many women, including Selena, are judged.
Selena’s Journey: More Than Just Appearances
Selena Gomez’s weight fluctuations are not random or insignificant—they are tied to her battle with lupus, an autoimmune disease she was diagnosed with in 2015. Lupus can cause severe inflammation, joint pain, fatigue, and organ damage. It’s a condition that often requires treatment with steroids, which are known to cause weight gain as a side effect.
In 2017, Selena underwent a kidney transplant, a life-saving procedure that further complicated her health journey. Additionally, Gomez has been open about her mental health struggles, particularly her battles with anxiety and depression, and the medications she takes to manage them. These treatments have also impacted her body and weight. Despite her transparency about her health, the focus of public attention often reverts to how her body has changed rather than her bravery in facing such challenges.
Beauty Beyond Weight
The idea that weight is synonymous with beauty is an outdated and damaging concept. Society has long upheld rigid, often unattainable standards for women's appearances. Celebrities, in particular, are expected to conform to these ideals, maintaining a certain body shape or size. Selena Gomez has frequently been at the center of this scrutiny, with comments about her weight gain dominating online forums and social media.
But what if we shifted our focus away from numbers on a scale? Gomez’s beauty cannot be confined to her weight. Her facial features, charisma, and confidence make her attractive regardless of what the tabloids say. She has luminous skin, expressive eyes, and a radiant smile, all of which contribute to her aesthetic appeal. More importantly, she possesses an inner beauty and strength that have shone through her battles with illness and her advocacy for mental health awareness.
Selena's story has touched millions, and her openness about her struggles has created a connection with her audience that transcends superficial beauty standards.
Gomez’s beauty is not simply about what she looks like; it’s about who she is and what she represents. Her openness about her physical and mental health challenges has given her fans a role model who proves that beauty is more than skin deep. This takes us to a broader question: why are we still so focused on weight when it comes to determining someone’s attractiveness?
Society's Toxic Relationship With Weight
The scrutiny of Selena Gomez’s weight gain reflects a broader issue in our culture: the toxic obsession with thinness and the harmful body standards perpetuated by media and social platforms. Women, in particular, are often judged on their appearance, and when they deviate from what is perceived as the "ideal" body type, they are often harshly criticized.
This is especially true for celebrities, whose bodies are scrutinized with a magnifying glass. Selena is not the first, nor will she be the last, public figure to be subjected to body-shaming. From Adele to Lizzo, female celebrities often face undue criticism when their bodies do not conform to societal expectations. However, unlike most of us, their changes in appearance become public debate, and their worth is often tied to how they look rather than their talent, character, or accomplishments.
But what makes Selena's situation more complex is the intersection of her health struggles with her appearance. There seems to be a dichotomy where people either criticize her weight gain or pity her for it, seemingly unable to accept that weight fluctuations—especially in the context of chronic illness—are a normal part of life. The real issue isn’t Selena Gomez’s weight, but rather how society reacts to it.
Are We Pitying Selena for Her Weight Gain?
It's important to consider whether pity has become a significant factor in how we view Selena Gomez's appearance. When people commIs Selena Gomez Actually Still Pretty, or Are We Pitying Her Simply for Gaining Weight?
Selena Gomez has been a mainstay in the public eye for over a decade, first finding fame on the Disney Channel before transitioning into a successful music career. As a beloved pop star, actress, and social media influencer, her image has been scrutinized at every turn. Over the years, her appearance, particularly her weight, has become the subject of intense discussion, especially in recent years when she has been open about her health struggles.
Some argue that her weight gain has diminished her attractiveness, while others maintain that Selena Gomez remains beautiful and inspiring regardless of her physical changes. But is this debate really about her appearance, or does it reflect a deeper societal issue? Are we genuinely assessing her beauty, or is there a component of sympathy in our view, driven by her well-documented health struggles? In this blog, we'll explore these questions in depth, addressing the perceptions around weight, beauty standards, and the unfair lens through which many women, including Selena, are judged.
Selena’s Journey: More Than Just Appearances
Selena Gomez’s weight fluctuations are not random or insignificant—they are tied to her battle with lupus, an autoimmune disease she was diagnosed with in 2015. Lupus can cause severe inflammation, joint pain, fatigue, and organ damage. It’s a condition that often requires treatment with steroids, which are known to cause weight gain as a side effect.
In 2017, Selena underwent a kidney transplant, a life-saving procedure that further complicated her health journey. Additionally, Gomez has been open about her mental health struggles, particularly her battles with anxiety and depression, and the medications she takes to manage them. These treatments have also impacted her body and weight. Despite her transparency about her health, the focus of public attention often reverts to how her body has changed rather than her bravery in facing such challenges.
Beauty Beyond Weight
The idea that weight is synonymous with beauty is an outdated and damaging concept. Society has long upheld rigid, often unattainable standards for women's appearances. Celebrities, in particular, are expected to conform to these ideals, maintaining a certain body shape or size. Selena Gomez has frequently been at the center of this scrutiny, with comments about her weight gain dominating online forums and social media.
But what if we shifted our focus away from numbers on a scale? Gomez’s beauty cannot be confined to her weight. Her facial features, charisma, and confidence make her attractive regardless of what the tabloids say. She has luminous skin, expressive eyes, and a radiant smile, all of which contribute to her aesthetic appeal. More importantly, she possesses an inner beauty and strength that have shone through her battles with illness and her advocacy for mental health awareness.
Selena's story has touched millions, and her openness about her struggles has created a connection with her audience that transcends superficial beauty standards.
Gomez’s beauty is not simply about what she looks like; it’s about who she is and what she represents. Her openness about her physical and mental health challenges has given her fans a role model who proves that beauty is more than skin deep. This takes us to a broader question: why are we still so focused on weight when it comes to determining someone’s attractiveness?
Society's Toxic Relationship With Weight
The scrutiny of Selena Gomez’s weight gain reflects a broader issue in our culture: the toxic obsession with thinness and the harmful body standards perpetuated by media and social platforms. Women, in particular, are often judged on their appearance, and when they deviate from what is perceived as the "ideal" body type, they are often harshly criticized.
This is especially true for celebrities, whose bodies are scrutinized with a magnifying glass. Selena is not the first, nor will she be the last, public figure to be subjected to body-shaming. From Adele to Lizzo, female celebrities often face undue criticism when their bodies do not conform to societal expectations. However, unlike most of us, their changes in appearance become public debate, and their worth is often tied to how they look rather than their talent, character, or accomplishments.
But what makes Selena's situation more complex is the intersection of her health struggles with her appearance. There seems to be a dichotomy where people either criticize her weight gain or pity her for it, seemingly unable to accept that weight fluctuations—especially in the context of chronic illness—are a normal part of life. The real issue isn’t Selena Gomez’s weight, but rather how society reacts to it.
Are We Pitying Selena for Her Weight Gain?
It's important to consider whether pity has become a significant factor in how we view Selena Gomez's appearance. When people commIs Selena Gomez Actually Still Pretty, or Are We Pitying Her Simply for Gaining Weight?
Selena Gomez has been a mainstay in the public eye for over a decade, first finding fame on the Disney Channel before transitioning into a successful music career. As a beloved pop star, actress, and social media influencer, her image has been scrutinized at every turn. Over the years, her appearance, particularly her weight, has become the subject of intense discussion, especially in recent years when she has been open about her health struggles.
Some argue that her weight gain has diminished her attractiveness, while others maintain that Selena Gomez remains beautiful and inspiring regardless of her physical changes. But is this debate really about her appearance, or does it reflect a deeper societal issue? Are we genuinely assessing her beauty, or is there a component of sympathy in our view, driven by her well-documented health struggles? In this blog, we'll explore these questions in depth, addressing the perceptions around weight, beauty standards, and the unfair lens through which many women, including Selena, are judged.
Selena’s Journey: More Than Just Appearances
Selena Gomez’s weight fluctuations are not random or insignificant—they are tied to her battle with lupus, an autoimmune disease she was diagnosed with in 2015. Lupus can cause severe inflammation, joint pain, fatigue, and organ damage. It’s a condition that often requires treatment with steroids, which are known to cause weight gain as a side effect.
In 2017, Selena underwent a kidney transplant, a life-saving procedure that further complicated her health journey. Additionally, Gomez has been open about her mental health struggles, particularly her battles with anxiety and depression, and the medications she takes to manage them. These treatments have also impacted her body and weight. Despite her transparency about her health, the focus of public attention often reverts to how her body has changed rather than her bravery in facing such challenges.
Beauty Beyond Weight
The idea that weight is synonymous with beauty is an outdated and damaging concept. Society has long upheld rigid, often unattainable standards for women's appearances. Celebrities, in particular, are expected to conform to these ideals, maintaining a certain body shape or size. Selena Gomez has frequently been at the center of this scrutiny, with comments about her weight gain dominating online forums and social media.
But what if we shifted our focus away from numbers on a scale? Gomez’s beauty cannot be confined to her weight. Her facial features, charisma, and confidence make her attractive regardless of what the tabloids say. She has luminous skin, expressive eyes, and a radiant smile, all of which contribute to her aesthetic appeal. More importantly, she possesses an inner beauty and strength that have shone through her battles with illness and her advocacy for mental health awareness.
Selena's story has touched millions, and her openness about her struggles has created a connection with her audience that transcends superficial beauty standards.
Gomez’s beauty is not simply about what she looks like; it’s about who she is and what she represents. Her openness about her physical and mental health challenges has given her fans a role model who proves that beauty is more than skin deep. This takes us to a broader question: why are we still so focused on weight when it comes to determining someone’s attractiveness?
Society's Toxic Relationship With Weight
The scrutiny of Selena Gomez’s weight gain reflects a broader issue in our culture: the toxic obsession with thinness and the harmful body standards perpetuated by media and social platforms. Women, in particular, are often judged on their appearance, and when they deviate from what is perceived as the "ideal" body type, they are often harshly criticized.
This is especially true for celebrities, whose bodies are scrutinized with a magnifying glass. Selena is not the first, nor will she be the last, public figure to be subjected to body-shaming. From Adele to Lizzo, female celebrities often face undue criticism when their bodies do not conform to societal expectations. However, unlike most of us, their changes in appearance become public debate, and their worth is often tied to how they look rather than their talent, character, or accomplishments.
But what makes Selena's situation more complex is the intersection of her health struggles with her appearance. There seems to be a dichotomy where people either criticize her weight gain or pity her for it, seemingly unable to accept that weight fluctuations—especially in the context of chronic illness—are a normal part of life. The real issue isn’t Selena Gomez’s weight, but rather how society reacts to it.
Are We Pitying Selena for Her Weight Gain?
It's important to consider whether pity has become a significant factor in how we view Selena Gomez's appearance. When people comment on her beauty today, are they expressing genuine admiration for her looks, or are they influenced by a sense of sympathy due to her well-documented health issues?
While it's clear that her openness about lupus and her mental health struggles has earned her a lot of compassion, it's essential not to conflate her appearance with her battle. If people are elevating her beauty solely because they feel sorry for her, it suggests a deeper problem: the inability to appreciate different body types unless there's an “excuse” for not meeting conventional standards.
It's worth noting that sympathy should not be the basis for appreciating someone's beauty. Selena Gomez is beautiful, not because we pity her struggles, but because she is a strong, multifaceted individual who embodies confidence, vulnerability, and resilience. These are qualities that should be celebrated in their own right, regardless of her body size.
The Harmful Effects of Body-Shaming
Body-shaming can have serious consequences on a person’s mental health, especially for public figures like Selena Gomez. In 2022, she spoke candidly about the toll that online criticism had taken on her self-esteem. In a TikTok video addressing her critics, she said, “I’m perfect the way I am,” emphasizing that she’s not letting negative comments affect her any longer.
Despite her positive outlook, it’s easy to see how such criticism could affect anyone. Constant scrutiny can lead to feelings of inadequacy, depression, or anxiety, which are challenges that Selena has already been open about facing. It’s a toxic cycle: the public criticizes her weight, which may exacerbate mental health struggles, which in turn might lead to further physical changes.
The online body-shaming Selena has experienced is a reflection of the much larger issue of how women's bodies are policed and critiqued in the public domain. It’s a form of bullying that women across the world face, but with celebrities, the attacks are amplified.
The Importance of Body Positivity and Acceptance
The body positivity movement has gained momentum in recent years, challenging outdated beauty standards and promoting acceptance of all body types. Celebrities like Selena Gomez play an important role in this movement by publicly embracing their bodies, flaws and all. By showing that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, they help to dismantle the rigid ideals that have long dominated mainstream media.
Selena has made it clear that her focus is on health and happiness, not on meeting anyone else’s standards. Her message of self-acceptance and self-love is something that resonates with her fans, particularly those who may struggle with body image issues themselves. Gomez has become an advocate for not only mental health but also body positivity, reminding everyone that self-worth is not defined by a number on the scale.
Conclusion: A Shift in Perspective
So, is Selena Gomez still pretty, or are we pitying her because she gained weight? The answer lies in how we view beauty and how we treat individuals who don’t fit into narrow, socially constructed ideals. Selena Gomez’s beauty transcends her weight; it lies in her strength, resilience, and openness about her struggles. Her attractiveness is not defined by societal standards of thinness, nor should it be diminished by her weight gain.
In a world where women’s bodies are often objectified and scrutinized, Selena Gomez’s journey is a powerful reminder that beauty is multifaceted. It’s time to move past archaic ideals of what makes someone “pretty” and celebrate individuals for who they are as a whole. Selena Gomez is not beautiful despite her weight gain—she is beautiful because she embraces herself, her health, and her humanity.
In the end, what we should truly pity is the societal obsession with weight as the primary marker of beauty. Only when we let go of these harmful notions can we appreciate the full scope of a person’s beauty, inside and out.
Social Plugin